I was told that separating trash into recycling material and regular material doesn’t make sense because the recycling material collected at the collecting stations (supermarkets) gets dumped into the same dump truck as the regular trash. This was witnessed by someone I know.

Could you do some investigative research and let us know what happens to the recycling material after it gets collected at the collecting stations? It hurts my soul to throw recyclable material into the regular trash.

Auntie’s answer: I actually went straight to the Department of Environmental Health (DEH), which oversees recycling, to see if they could help, and it turns out they could. It sounds like it was a case of “mistaken identity”.

I will let a DEH official explain. “The DEH uses its front-end loaders to remove garbage from some larger containers. It also utilises the same vehicles to remove recyclables from similarly sized containers located at the various supermarket depots.

“It should be noted, however; that garbage and recyclable items are usually collected at different times, and the vehicle cleaned between collections.”

So while your friend did see a dump truck picking up a load of goods to be recycled, the vehicle was on its recycle run, as it were, and not hauling garbage.

I hope you will also be relieved to hear that the recyclables and garbage are brought to different sections of the George Town landfill. Recycled items go to a specially designated section and the garbage is brought to the general tipping area.

However, if the goods targeted for recycling are found to be contaminated, by such things as “dead animals, flammable substances or other items which may result in public health concerns”, then that load will be dealt with like regular garbage, to prevent the contamination of other recyclables.

For the best outcome, the DEH official stressed, “It is imperative that residents pay keen attention to the items they place in recycling containers and the condition of these items to prevent their disposal…and always ensure that they are clean.”

What’s Happening in the Cayman Islands

The Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing (DVDL) offices will be closed on Wednesday, 18 September, to facilitate a staff meeting, training and team building exercises. All DVDL offices will resume business as usual on Thursday, 19 September.

The National Conservation Council will hold a general meeting on Wednesday, 11 September, starting at 2pm at the Government Administration Building room 2112 (2nd floor). The agenda for the meeting is attached below.

On Monday, 9 September, Fort Street will be closed between Harbour Drive and the junction with Edward Street (Clock Tower) in order to facilitate the Laying in State of the late John McLean, MLA. The closure will take place from 7:45am to 8:30am and again from 3:15pm to 4:00pm.

The Customs and Border Control Service (CBC) would like to inform customers of UPS who may be experiencing delays with receiving their imported goods that the delays are not caused by CBC. They are the result of a private commercial issue between two local on-island agents that provide services for UPS.

The Protocol Office requests individuals, businesses and organisations, who wish to lower their flags to half-mast ahead of the funeral of the late John McLean, MLA, to do so at 9.05am on Monday, 9 September.

The Cayman Islands Seafarers Association reminds all members that the September Social will take place on Tuesday 17 September at 7:00pm in the Seafarer’s Hall, 11 Victory Ave, Prospect. It is expected that all will wear their CISA shirts.

WORC (Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman) would like to inform the public that the extended hours offered on Wednesdays at the Immigration Headquarters will end as of Monday, 30 September. Normal office hours from 8:30am to 4:00pm will resume thereafter.

The Mercuryman Triathlon takes place on Sunday, 8 September, starting at 6:45am at Eden Rock on South Church Street, George Town. The bike portion of the event will begin in front of Eden Rock and participants will travel to East End via South Sound Road, Shamrock Road, Bodden Town Road, Sea View Road and the […]

The Department of Planning in the Ministry of Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure will host an information session on the planning application and permit process at the Family Life Centre on Thursday, September 5, 2019, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The aim of the session will be to provide information and guidance on the planning process […]

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